[Histonet] Re: Histonet Digest, Vol 83, Issue 20

[histotech <@t> imagesbyhopper.com]

Can you please provide the specific CMS update number?  The website doesn't seem to be too user friendly ...   thanks!



On Oct 14, 2010, at 12:22 PM, "Weems, Joyce" <JWeems <@t> sjha.org> wrote:

> 
> CMS/NCCI Update Dated October 1, 2009 
> 
> 8. The unit of service for special stains (CPT codes 88312-88313) and
> immunohistochemistry (CPT codes 88342, 88360, 88361) is each stain. If
> it is medically reasonable and necessary to perform the same stain on
> more than one specimen or more than one block of tissue from the same
> specimen, additional units of service may be reported for the
> additional specimen(s) or block(s). Physicians should not report more
> than one unit of service for a stain performed on a single tissue
> block. For example it is common practice to cut multiple levels from a
> tissue block and stain each level with the same stain. The multiple
> levels from the same block of tissue stained with the same stain
> should not be reported as additional units of service. Only one unit
> of service should be reported for the stain on multiple levels from
> the single tissue block. Additionally, controls performed with special
> stains should not be reported as separate units of service for the
> stain. 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Pence [mailto:mpence <@t> grhs.net] 
> Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 11:31
> To: Weems, Joyce; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: Histonet Digest, Vol 83, Issue 20
> 
> Can you site your source, please.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Weems, Joyce
> Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 10:25 AM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: Histonet Digest, Vol 83, Issue 20
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The change is that you can bill per block now and not per specimen. This is for immunos and special stains. It does make a huge difference! 
> 
> Best, 
> 
> Joyce Weems
> Pathology Manager
> Saint Joseph's Hospital
> 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE
> Atlanta, GA 30342
> 678-843-7376 - Phone
> 678-843-7831 - Fax 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Evanish
> Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 11:10
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Re: Histonet Digest, Vol 83, Issue 20
> 
> Has anyone heard of a cpt coding change that allows us to bill 88342 per slide run instead of per antibody? One of our Pathologist was at a conference and was told that we could do that. It makes a big difference with running cytokeratins on multiple blocks and levels of sentinel nodes.
> 
>  Thanks,
> Chris Evanish
> Montgomery Hospital
> Norristown PA
> 
> Chris D. Evanish
> Histology Supervisor
> Montgomery Hospital
> 610-270-2379 
> 
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